Roy Hodgson says Jack Wilshere's lack of match practice was the reason for his below-par performance in England 's goalless draw with Ukraine .
Handed his second start in four days following his 90-minute workout against Moldova on Friday, Wilshere did not enjoy the best of evenings.
The Arsenal man struggled to make an impact on a solid Ukraine defense and his normally forceful passing was completely off radar.
It was no surprise when Wilshere was replaced by Ashley Young midway through the second-half, not that the Manchester United man had much of an impact either.
However, as Hodgson knows only too well, Wilshere did not have the benefit of a full pre-season campaign as Arsene Wenger protected him after two years of problems with ankle and knee injuries.
And that is bound to have had an effect at the Olympic Stadium.
"Jack is still looking for full fitness," said Hodgson.
"That is why we took him off in the second-half.
"We certainly saw a much more effective Jack agains...

You'll
also
receive Yardbarker's daily Top 10, featuring the best sports stories from around the web.
Customize your newsletter to get articles on your favorite sports and teams. And the best part? It's free!